Along with his newfound friend Harry Kim, Tom Paris boarded the Voyager for the first time. As is usual with the boarding of a starship for the first time they reported to Sickbay. It was there they first met Voyager’s CMO, Doctor McCarthy. Although pleased to see Kim he was not to happy at seeing Paris.
“Welcome aboard Mister Kim.” McCarthy said, shaking the young Ensign by his hand. “And you must be Tom Paris…the observer.”
Paris could tell instantly that McCarthy had taken a dislike to him. McCarthy made no attempt to hide his dislike for Paris, and Paris made this aware to McCarthy.
“As a matter of fact.” he said, “I’m observing right here, now. Have me met before Doctor?”
“Not exactly Mister Paris. I was stationed on Calder Prime about the same time as you. I treated the wounded from the Calder II incident. One of them was a friend of mine.”
Kim could see something was going on here. He tried to interject himself into the situation.
“Perhaps we should go and see the Captain.”
“You do that Mister Kim. She’s been asking about you.”
“Maybe I should go along as well.” said Paris.
The two of them then left Sickbay. McCarthy was pleased about this. He had no wish to even be in the same room with someone with Paris’ reputation.
In the corridor outside Kim tried to get some information out of Paris.
“What was all that about?” he asked.
“It’s a long story Harry, and I’m getting tired of telling it. Maybe the Doctor will tell it to you sometime.”
A few minutes later they approached Captain Janeway’s ready room. Janeway was almost finished with the systems status reports, and the arrival of Paris and Kim brought about a welcome distraction. Soon the two men were stood before her.
“Ensign Harry Kim reporting for duty sir.”
Janeway looked at Kim. It was obvious by the way he was standing, virtually like a statue, that he was trying to impress his new commanding officer.
“At ease Mister Kim.” she said. “Before you sprain something.”
Paris smiled at this. He had been through all of this many times before.
“And contrary to Starfleet protocol I don’t like being referred to as sir.”
“Yes mam.” Kim replied.
“Mam will do at a crunch, but I prefer Captain.”
“Yes…Captain.”
Kim was now even more nervous than ever.
A few moments later Janeway showed them to the bridge. The bridge was different to the normal starship layout. The captain’s and first officer’s chairs were still in the same location, but ops was now located behind them, with only the navigation console in front of the command chair.
Upon entering the bridge Commander Cavett rose to his feet. The three of them approached him.
“This is my first officer, Lieutenant-Commander Cavett.” said Janeway. “Commander Cavett, our new Operations Manager, Ensign Harry Kim.”
“Pleased to meet you Ensign.”
Cavett and Kim shook hands.
“And our observer, Tom Paris.”
Paris extended his hand. Cavett stared at him and reluctantly grasped it. It seemed that Cavett also knew of the Calder II incident. Janeway then showed Kim to his station.
“This is Ops Mister Kim.”
Taking his station Kim began to study the layout of the station.
“Thank you Mam.”
“It isn’t crunch time yet Mister Kim. I’ll let you know when!”
Another embarrassment for the young officer. With everything complete and the ship ready to go the time was right for the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager to start their mission. Janeway took her place in the command chair.
“Lieutenant Stadi, clear our departure with Ops.”
Stadi, from her pilot’s chair, studied her panel.
“Ops has cleared us.”
“Then set a course for the Badlands, ahead warp factor one.”
The Voyager was soon clear of Deep Space Nine and on her way to the Badlands.
With Starfleet One docked with Babylon 5 Captain Sheridan and Commander Ivanova escorted President Servalan and her many aides on a brief tour of the station. Although Sheridan had only met Servalan a couple of times before he knew that he couldn’t stand the woman. He knew what she was capable of and what she was doing to the Federation, but he also knew he could say nothing while she was on her ‘Goodwill Tour.”
“You run a very tight station here Captain Sheridan.” Servalan remarked. “I have a feeling that Babylon 5 will become a very important place in the coming months.”
“Exactly what do you mean Madam President?” Sheridan asked.
“With this war between the Narns and the Centauri Babylon 5 will obviously become the focal point for any talks between the two governments. The Federation may also have some kind of role to play in this matter.”
“And what about the Prime Directive? We didn’t get directly involved in the Klingon civil war, so why are you interested in getting involved in this conflict?”
“It is my hope to negotiate a peace treaty between the two parties involved.”
“It may be too late for that.”
As they walked along the corridor Ambassador Mollari approached them.
“Ah, President Servalan, I was hoping that perhaps we could have a few moments to talk.”
“The President is very busy…” said Ivanova.
“Not too busy to talk to Ambassador Mollari Commander.” said Servalan. “We are near the council chambers, aren’t we Captain?”
“Yes but…”
“Then we can talk in there.”
A few moments later Servalan and Mollari were seated around the table in the council chamber. Mollari was pleased at having cornered the President of the Federation.
“It is out our war with the Narn Empire, Madam President.” said Mollari. “As you probably know there have been only a few border skirmishes, but there may come a time when the Centauri Republic will need the support of others.”
“You mean you are looking for allies Ambassador.”
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid I cannot commit myself or the United Federation of Planets to anything. Under the regulations I used to take control after President Watt’s death I must soon call an election. To interfere in your war with the Narns would be a violation of the Prime Directive…as it currently stands. If I were to win the election however that would be a different matter.”
“Then you would be willing to support us, if you won?”
“Off the record…yes.”
“On the record, would you support our effort if the Centauri Republic were to make a financial contribution to your campaign effort?”
“Perhaps. We will have to wait and see.”
“Then I will contact my government and arrange for a donation to be paid into your account.”
“Thank you Ambassador. Now if you will excuse me…”
Servalan soon joined Sheridan and Ivanova in the corridor. As soon as they were out of view Mollari emerged from the chamber a rather happy man.
Major Kira chaired a meeting of the senior officers in the operations room of Deep Space Nine. With the U.S.S. Voyager out of the way she was now ready to give them the news they had been waiting for.
“We’re in trouble people!” she announced. “We’ve run every battle drill involving a Dominion attack we could think of! If these results are correct we don’t stand a chance against them! The Jem’Hadar will take this station in two, maybe three hours!”
“Are those figures correct Major?” Bashir asked.
“Yes, and that’s just the good news! The computer predicts a seventy-four percent casualty rate. Let’s face it, we’re sitting ducks!”
“Is there nothing more we can do?” asked Dax.
“Even with the new weapon modifications it won’t be enough!” said O’Brien.
Then as the conversation continued Dax’s station panel began to light up. Leaving her place at the table she soon seated herself at he station.
“What is it?” Kira asked.
“I’m picking up elevated neutrino levels, as if a cloaked vessel is nearby.”
O’Brien went over to his console.
“It’s only a thousand metres away! It’s practically on top of us”
“It can’t be from the Dominion can it?” asked Bashir.
“Major!” Dax said. “The vessel is decloaking!”
“On screen!”
The image of the decloaking vessel appeared before them. To them it looked somewhat familiar, and yet it seemed different.
“I’m picking up a Federation warp signature.” Said Dax.
“A cloaking device on a Federation ship?” said O’Brien. “How can that be?”
“We’re being hailed?” Dax announced
The image of the ship was soon replaced by a more familiar sight, that of Commander Sisko.
“Sorry to alarm you, but we just wanted to test the Defiant’s cloaking device.”
“The Defiant?” asked Kira.
“All will be explained when we’ve docked!”
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